Damper assembly and device utilizing the same

ABSTRACT

A damper assembly includes a housing, a rotor rotatable within the housing, a rotor shaft projecting outwardly of the housing and a damper gear disposed on the rotor shaft. A bracket includes legs disposed outwardly of the damper for securing the assembly in a device, the bracket further having a body between the damper and the damper gear, the body exerting force against each the damper and the damper gear. The damper is selectively engageable with and disengageable from the bracket for enabling and disabling relative movement between the damper and the bracket

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefits of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/154,490 filed on Feb. 23, 2009; and of UnitedStates Provisional Application 61/221,748 filed on Jun. 30, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to damper assemblies, drivearrangements for damper assemblies and structures and devices utilizingdamper assemblies. More specifically, the invention pertains to a drivearrangement for a one-way movement damper assembly and a retractablestrap type crowd control device using the damper assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Movement dampers are used in a wide variety of devices to control themovement of device components. In some situations, dampers are used tocontrol movements of components that would otherwise move more suddenlyand forcefully than desired. The damper may control movement caused bygravitational forces or movement induced by springs or other actuators.Doors, drawers and pullouts in furniture are some examples of knownapplications for dampers. In automobiles, dampers are known for use on,for example, glove box doors, console covers, sunglass bins, retractablecup holders and other storage bins or storage areas. Many other devicesalso use dampers.

Viscous dampers are known. In a viscous damper a rotor is rotatablewithin a housing that contains a viscous damping fluid. Internalstructures of the rotor and/or housing establish ports for relativemovement of the damping fluid and rotor, thereby providing a desireddegree of resistance or “damping”.

Both one-way and two-way dampers are known. As the names imply, aone-way damper controls movement in only one direction while applyingminimal resistance to movement in the opposite direction, and a two-waydamper provides resistance or control of movement in both directions. Toprovide one-way damping, it is known to have driving structure betweenthe damper and the component controlled that engages for movement in onedirection and disengages for movement in the other direction. Theengagement and disengagement can be problematic if not effectedcompletely, and operation is compromised if not firmly engaged and/ornoisy if not completely disengaged and separated.

It is known to use automatically retracting straps to control or directcrowd movement. For example, in public facilities, it is known toprovide a plurality of self-standing posts or pedestals with reelassemblies at the tops thereof, each having a length of nylon or otherwebbing material wound therein. Each post further includes one or moreslot for engaging an end of a strap from an adjacent post. The standsare moved and arranged easily, with the straps connected therebetween todesignate paths for crowd movement, to block areas people are to berestricted from and to otherwise define pedestrian traffic patterns whennecessary. The web or strap is extendable outwardly from the reel, oftentightening a spring or other retraction device in the process so thatwhen the web is released it automatically retracts, rewinding on thereel. To ensure efficient and complete wind up, and to hold the websecurely in the wound up state, the automatic drive features are knownto be both strong and rapid. However, the rapid roll-up of the webhaving a hardened plastic fixture at the distal end thereof for engagingan adjacent post can cause random whipping and uncontrolled movement asthe extended web length rapid shortens. In large crowds it sometimeshappens that a post is inadvertently tipped over causing attached strapsto disengage within a crowded area. Individuals leaning on a post orstrap, individuals manipulating or moving the components and otherrandom acts can cause an unintended disengagement of strap ends fromadjacent posts, and the rapid, random wind-up that sometimes occurs.

It is desirable to provide a crowd control device with a more effectivedamper, and a damper that engages and disengages effectively for use inthe crowd control device and other structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a damper with a drive arrangement thatengages and disengages effectively, which can be used within a reelassembly of a crowd control device so that a strap can be unwound fromthe reel without interference, but unguided rewind is controlled ateven, consistent acceleration so that random whipping is minimized.Biasing force is applied in opposite directions from between the damperand the damper gear against the damper and damper gear.

In one aspect of one form of one embodiment, a movement dampened deviceis provided with a moving component of the device during operation, anonmoving component of the device during operation and a device gearconnected to one of the moving and nonmoving components. A damperassembly is connected to the other of the moving and nonmovingcomponents. The damper assembly includes a damper having a rotor and arotor shaft, a damper gear operatively disposed on the rotor shaft foroperative engagement with the device gear and a biasing means betweenthe damper and the damper gear exerting force against the damper and thedamper gear in opposite directions.

In another aspect of another form of another embodiment, a damperassembly is provided with a damper including a housing, a rotor in thehousing and a rotor shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and adamper gear disposed on a distal end of the rotor shaft. A damperbracket has a body between the damper and the damper gear and legsdisposed outwardly of the damper and defining features therein forattaching the damper assembly in a device. Cooperating engagingstructures on the damper housing and the damper bracket are provided forselectively engaging and disengaging the damper housing from the bracketfor enabling and disabling relative rotation therebetween. The damperbracket defines biasing structure operating against the damper housingand against a side of the damper gear facing the damper housing.

In a further aspect of a further form of a further embodiment, a damperassembly is provided with a damper bracket having a body and legs and adamper disposed between the damper legs on one side of the damperbracket body. A rotor in the damper has a shaft extending outwardlytherefrom through the damper bracket body. A damper gear is disposed onthe rotor shaft on a second side of the damper bracket body. The damperbracket body is configured to provide biasing force from between thedamper and the damper gear, the biasing force being exerted against eachthe damper and the damper gear.

An advantage of one aspect of an embodiment of the damper drivearrangement disclosed herein is that it provides effective engagementand disengagement of the damper drive mechanism.

Another advantage of another aspect of an embodiment of the damper drivearrangement disclosed herein is that it can be installed in retractablebelt-type crowd control devices to minimize random whipping duringrewind.

Other features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled inthe art upon review of the following detailed description, claims anddrawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a damper assembly;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the damper assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe damper assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the damper assembly;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the damper assembly adjusted to an operatingposition for damping;

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 5, but with the damper assemblyadjusted to an operating position for free, non-damped rotation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the damper assembly in a movementdampened device;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a crowd control assembly with the damperassembly and a web of the device extended; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the crowd control assembly with the webthereof partly retracted.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangements of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of“including”, “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompassthe items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well asadditional items and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and particularly toFIGS. 1-6, an exemplary damper assembly 100 is shown. Damper assembly100 includes a damper 102 and a drive assembly 104 including a bracket106 and a damper gear 108.

Damper 102 is a viscous rotary gear damper having an outer housing 110,which may be multiple components fastened one to another by, forexample, ultrasonic welding. In the exemplary embodiment shown, housing110 includes a shell 112 and a cover 114 attached thereto. Shell 112 andcover 114 together define an interior volume 116 which is filled with aviscous damping fluid in the completed assembly. Shell 112 defines cogsor ribs 118 on the outer periphery thereof, which, in the exemplaryembodiment, surround shell 110 at one end of damper 102. Cogs 118 arefixed elements with respect to shell 112, and can be integral formationsin shell 112. Damper 102 further includes a rotor 120 which is rotatablewithin volume 116 and includes a shaft 122 which extends outwardly ofcover 114 through a hole 124. A flattened distal end 126 of shaft 122 isconfigured for driving engagement with damper gear 108 so that rotationof shaft 122 causes damper gear 108 to rotate directly with shaft 122.

As known to those skilled in the art, viscous dampers include bafflesand restrictions of various types for channeling the movement of dampingfluid relative to rotation of a rotor within a contained space tocontrol the rotation of the rotor and provide a damping function.Accordingly, rotation of the external gear connected to the rotor iscontrolled, and the controlled rotation can be transferred through agear couple between the exposed gear connected to the rotor and a gearon the device the movement of which is to be controlled, such as awindup spool for a crowd control device.

Bracket 106 includes a main body 130 and mounting legs 132, 134projecting from diametrically opposed sides of body 130. In theexemplary embodiment shown, each mounting leg 132, 134 defines a hole136, 138, respectively, for receiving fasteners 140, 142 (FIG. 7) forattaching bracket 106 in an installation. In the exemplary embodimentshown, fasteners 140, 142 are threaded screw-type fasteners. It shouldbe understood that other types of attachment are also possible, such as,for example and not limitation, fasteners of types other than screws;attachments without independent fasteners, such as snap-in features onthe legs received in holes; and clamps, hold-downs or adhesives forsecuring the bracket within an installation.

One leg 134 defines cogs or teeth 144 on the inside thereof to engagecogs or ribs 118 on shell 110. Body 130 defines a central aperture 146through which damper shaft 122 extends. Central aperture 146 is formedwith and in body 130 so as to establish an upwardly extending ridge orrim 148 along the edge of material defining aperture 146. One or moreflex bar 150, 152 is defined in body 130 outwardly and on opposite sidesof central aperture 146. In the exemplary embodiment two such flex bars150, 152 are shown, one flex bar 150, 152 on each of opposite sides ofcentral aperture 146. Flex bars 150, 152 in the exemplary embodimentshown are arcuate bodies defined between pairs of curved slots 154, 156and 158, 160 respectively.

Bracket 106 is configured, installed and adapted to provide biasingforces in opposite directions from between housing 110 and damper gear108. Accordingly, legs 132, 134 are sized so that bracket 106 providesdownward clamping force against housing 110 when damper assembly 100 isinstalled. Arcuate flex bars 150, 152 are positioned to bias against theupper surface of cover 114 as a radially outermost portion 162 (FIG. 3)of body 130 is drawn downwardly when legs 132, 134 are fastened inplace. At the same time, a radially inner most portion 164 of body 130is clamped between cover 114 and the underside of the damper gear 108.Bracket 106 also may include one or more protrusion 166 or other featurefor locating bracket 106 within a device.

Damper gear 108 is connected by a snap-fit connection onto rotor shaft122. The snap-fit connection is configured such that prior to snappingtogether, the gear is caused to push down against rim 148 whileinnermost portion 164 is pushed against cover 114 of damper housing 110.Then, when the gear is snapped to the post of the rotor, there is abuilt in biasing force between the top of the damper and the gear on thepost. The bracket including flex bars 150, 152 and outer and innerportions 162, 164 ensures a tight or desirable connection between thegear and the damper on account of the force applied by the flex barsagainst the damper and the gear. This force is not enough to prevent thedamper assembly from moving as desired during operation, to engage anddisengage cogs 118 with cogs 144. However, the biasing force of bracket106 helps ensure the mating of the cogs during damping and disengagementof the cogs during free running.

Damper assembly 100 uses the engagement and disengagement of cooperatingengagement structures on housing 110 and bracket 106, that is cogs 118and cogs 144, to alternatively provide damping effect (when the cogs areengaged) and free-wheeling with no damping effect (when the cogs aredisengaged. When the cogs are disengaged, damper housing 110 can moverelative to bracket 106. Accordingly, no relative rotation occursbetween damper housing 110 and rotor 120. Conversely, when the cogs areengaged damper housing 110 is held stationary relative to bracket 106.Accordingly, relative rotation occurs between damper housing 110 androtor 120 such that damping effect is transferred via damper gear 108.

Flex bars 150, 152 help hold damper 102 and bracket 106 in place, eitherin the damping condition when the cogs engage (FIG. 5) or in the freerun condition when the cogs do not engage (FIG. 6). Without theresistance or desired force applied by bracket 106 against damper 102and damper gear 108, the cogs may not engage or disengage as desired,particularly if the vertical orientation of the damper is altered, suchas when a crowd control device on a post is tipped over. When the freerunning, non-damping condition is desired, the flex bars cooperate withthe damper and gear to ensure non-engagement between the cogs. Withoutthe resistance or desired force, the cogs may undesirably engagepartially, causing an unwanted ratcheting noise from operation of thedamper within a device. The bracket provides a force to ensure theproper location and operation of the damper relative to the bracket anda device engaged with the damper.

FIG. 7 illustrates a movement dampened device 200 including damperassembly 100. For example and not limitation, dampened device 200 can bea crowd control real mechanism for a rope, strap, web or the like.Movement dampened device 200 includes an outer body 202 and a stationaryend plate 204. A moving component of device 200 includes a rotatableshaft 206 extending through end plate 204. A gear 208 is drivinglydisposed on shaft 206 and is operatively engaged with damper gear 108.Accordingly, the damping effect of damper assembly 100 is conveyed tothe movement of the moving component in device 200 via the gearedconnection between damper gear 108 and device gear 208.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another movement dampened device which is acrowd control device 210 suitable for attachment on or within aself-standing post, or in a housing mounted on a wall or otherstructure. Crowd control device 210 includes a reel assembly 212 havinga spool 214 and a web, rope, belt or strap 216 wound on the spool. Afixture 218 at the distal end of strap 216 can be secured to anotherstructure or post of a similarly structured crowd control device, or toa simple receiving bracket made therefor, as those skilled in the artwill readily understand. Reel assembly 212 includes a head 220, a base222 and pillars 224 disposed between the head and the base. A cap plate226 is connected to spool 214 to rotate therewith. A damper assembly100, as described previously herein, is mounted on cap plate 226 to movewith plate 226 and spool 214. An internally toothed ring gear 228 isfixed to head 220, and does not move. Damper gear 108 engages ring gear228 so that, as a spool 214, plate 226 and damper assembly 100 move,damper gear 108 revolves within ring gear 228 in driving engagement withthe teeth of ring gear 228. Accordingly, the damping function of damperassembly 100 is transferred to the turning of spool 214 through thedriving relationship of damper gear 108 and ring gear 228 and theconnection of the damper assembly to the spool. Damper assembly 100improves and promotes smooth consistent speed and acceleration so thatwind up occurs with less random whipping, even if wind up is interferedwith by catching or restraining of the strap as it winds. The dampermoderates inconsistencies in speed and acceleration. If a one-way damperassembly is provided, damping control can be limited to the windupfunction, with unwinding being uninfluenced by the damper.

It should be understood further that still other types of damperengaging arrangements can be used also for connecting the damperassembly to a movement dampened device. Other gearing arrangements canbe used whereby one of a cooperating gear from the device or the dampergear is fixed with respect to the nonmoving part of the device, such asa head or other portions of a crowd control device, and the other of thecooperating gear and the damper gear is affixed to, for rotation withthe moving part of the device, such as a spool and/or other rotatingparts of the reel assembly in a crowd control device. Accordingly, thecontrolling features of the damper are transferred to the moving partsof the device, such as the rollup feature of the spool in a crowdcontrol device.

While specific applications and uses of a damper assembly in crowdcontrol devices have been shown and described, those skilled in the artwill readily understand that a damper assembly can be used in a widevariety of other structures and devices having moving parts, includingthose found in furniture, various automotive applications and devices ofmany other types.

Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope ofthe present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed anddefined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more ofthe individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/ordrawings. All of these different combinations constitute variousalternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments describedherein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention andwill enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. Theclaims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to theextent permitted by the prior art.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

1. A movement dampened device, comprising: a moving component of thedevice during operation; a nonmoving component of the device duringoperation; a device gear connected to one of said moving component andsaid nonmoving component; a damper assembly connected to the other ofsaid moving component and said nonmoving component, said damper assemblyincluding: a damper having a rotor and a rotor shaft; a damper gearoperatively disposed on said rotor shaft for operative engagement withsaid device gear; and a biasing means between said damper and saiddamper gear exerting force against said damper and said damper gear inopposite directions.
 2. The movement dampened device of claim 1, saiddamper having a movable housing with cogs thereon, and said damperassembly further including fixed cogs selectively engageable with anddisengageable from said cogs on said damper housing.
 3. The movementdampened device of claim 2, including a fixed bracket secured aroundsaid damper, said bracket having said fixed cogs thereon.
 4. Themovement dampened device of claim 3, said bracket having portionsthereof biased against said damper and said damper gear.
 5. The movementdampened device of claim 4, said bracket having a body between saiddamper and said damper gear, and legs on opposite sides of said damper.6. The movement dampened device of claim 5, said moving component beinga spool of a crowd control device.
 7. The movement dampened device ofclaim 1, said moving component being a spool of a crowd control device.8. The movement dampened device of claim 1, said damper assembly beingconnected to and movable with said moving component, and said devicegear being connected to said nonmoving component.
 9. The movementdampened device of claim 1, said damper assembly being connected to saidnonmoving component, and said device gear being connected to and movablewith said moving component.
 10. A damper assembly comprising: a damperincluding a housing, a rotor in said housing and a rotor shaft extendingoutwardly from said housing; a damper gear disposed on a distal end ofsaid rotor shaft; a damper bracket having a body between said damper andsaid damper gear and legs disposed outwardly of said damper and definingfeatures therein for attaching said damper assembly in a device;cooperating engaging structures on said damper housing and said damperbracket for selectively engaging and disengaging said damper housingfrom said bracket for enabling and disabling relative rotationtherebetween; and said damper bracket defining biasing structureoperating against said damper housing and against a side of said dampergear facing said damper housing.
 11. The damper assembly of claim 10,said damper bracket body having slots therein defining flexible barstherebetween, said flexible bars disposed against said damper housing;and an inner portion of said damper bracket body having a rim projectingtoward and against said damper gear.
 12. The damper assembly of claim11, said damper bracket body defining a central aperture therethrough,and said rotor shaft projecting through said central aperture.
 13. Thedamper assembly of claim 10, said damper housing and one of said damperlegs having cogs thereon for selective engagement and disengagement withone another.
 14. The damper assembly of claim 10, said damper bracketbody having an outer most portion biased against said damper housing andan inner most portion biased against said damper gear.
 15. A damperassembly comprising: a damper bracket having a body and legs; a damperdisposed between said damper legs on one side of said damper bracketbody; a rotor in said damper having a shaft extending outwardlytherefrom through said damper bracket body; a damper gear disposed onsaid rotor shaft on a second side of said damper bracket body; and saiddamper bracket body configured to provide biasing force from betweensaid damper and said damper gear, said biasing force being exertedagainst each said damper and said damper gear.
 16. The damper assemblyof claim 15, said damper having a damper housing with external cogsthereon; and said bracket having second cogs thereon selectivelyengageable with and disengageable from said cogs of said damper housing.17. The damper assembly of claim 16, said second cogs being disposed onone of said legs.
 18. The damper assembly of claim 15, said damperbracket body having an outermost portion biased against said damperhousing and an innermost portion biased against said damper gear. 19.The damper assembly of claim 18, said innermost portion having a rimprojecting toward said damper gear.
 20. The damper assembly of claim 17,said bracket being affixed within a crowd control device and said dampergear being operatively engaged with a gear of said crowd control device.